Blakes 7 - 0502 - Breakdown [ home ] [ prev ] [ next ]
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Author: Terry Nation
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Director: Vere Lorrimer [ IMDB ] |
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Excerpt from Blakes 7: The Program Guide by Tony Attwood During a series of standard maneuvers, the limiter placed in Gan's brain begins to malfunction and he becomes unusually aggressive, assaulting members of the crew and using his enormous strength to attack the Liberator itself. He is eventually overpowered by the others, who then try to determine how and where they can obtain the skilled surgery required to repair the damage to Gan's limiter. Eventually, after much discussion, they decide to go to the space research station XK72, a location which Avon has already investigated as a possible place to go should he no longer be able to stay with Blake and the others on the Liberator. The station houses a famous neurosurgeon, Professor Kayn, and it is to him they hope to turn. However, in order to get to XK72 in time, it is necessary to travel through an exceptionally dangerous zone of space. Zen refuses to fly the ship through this zone, and when the ship is taken through on manual control, Zen disengages all functions. This means that the ship gradually becomes more and more unstable, since the computers are a central part of the Liberator's design system; Avon just manages to bypass Zen as they are about to be drawn into the very center of a gravitational vortex. With the computers back on line, they fly through the center of the vortex and reach XK72. Recognizing that the doctors on XK72 are unlikely to help Blake if they realize that the Liberator is a ship full of criminals, they pretend to be a Federation ship on a practice run. Professor Kayn, however, quickly finds out what is going on. Despite being on a neutral space station, his sympathies towards law and order lead him to alert the Federation to Blake's whereabouts and three Pursuit Ships are rapidly sent. With only thirty minutes to go he begins the operation on Liberator, warning the crew that Gan will die if they attempt to move out of the range of the space station, since any vibration will affect the outcome of the operation. The operation is successfully completed with minutes to spare, and Kayn and his assistant are transported back to XK72 as the Liberator turns to make its escape. A furious argument breaks out on XK72 concerning the legitimacy of Kayn's notification of the Federation forces, and during the dispute Kayn strangles the station administrator, Farren. He then becomes so distraught at the destruction wrought by his own hands, hands normally used to save life, that he sits helpless as a Federation plasma bolt deflected off the Liberator's screens approaches and destroys XK72. Review 01/16/2005 by ledlogic Cally should have been dropped off on a planet. In this episode she proved her ineptitude by releasing Gan from his restraints. She thought that the use of restraints was barbaric, yet these are some kind of magnetic field, not shackles in a subterranean dungeon. She goes against the wishes of all the crew and releases him. Fortunately, she gets some of her come-uppance, when he immediately whacks her. Later for some reason he wants to attack Avon, and rip out the computer linkages right before they go through a black hole. Maybe the delimiter in his head has an inferiority complex with the ship's computer. Not the best time for Cally to have released him, would you say. The black hole looks a bit too liquidic - like a toilet flushing instead of a swirling mass. As Blake deals with the Gan roving menace, Cally takes control of the ship. Who do you want piloting the ship through a black hole? Cally or Jenna? Fortunately, Jenna assumes control before they go through. This episode shows how much can be packed into a single episode of Blakes 7 - Gan goes beserk, they navigate through a black hole, they contact an independent research station that suddenly becomes loyal to the Federation, and they are attacked by pursuit ships, only to have the station destroyed by a loose plasma bolt. Just how far Blake will go to protect his friends is shown when he threatens to destroy the neurosurgeon's hands. This is probably why the neurosurgeon Farron goes berserk afterwards. Script from hal9000.net.au (c) 1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation. Series created by Terry Nation. This is a complete dialogue transcript for research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances. Format (c) 1992 by Micky DuPree and Nicole Vifian. Dramatis Personae
Uncredited:
ZEN: Attention. Liberator is entering meteorite storm zone. [Gan exclaims in pain and groans.] Navigation computers propose immediate evasion course. Directive on manual override is now required. Repeat, directive on manual override is now required. JENNA: Gan, what are you doing! Manual out, commit full automatics. Navigation computer take emergency evasive action and get us out of it. ZEN: Full automatics, confirm. JENNA: If you couldn't have handled it, why didn't you call one of us? You're not expected to cope yet. [Gan groans in pain.] Gan, what is it? What's the matter? GAN: I'm sorry. [groans] JENNA: Blake, I think you'd better get down to the flight deck. It's Gan. BLAKE: What's wrong with him, Jenna? JENNA: I don't know, he seems to be in some sort of pain. He's obviously got - [Gan attacks Jenna] BLAKE: Jenna? [Gan throws Jenna to the floor] Jenna. Jenna! [Gan drags Jenna to front of flight deck] BLAKE: Gan! Gan, it's me, Blake. Gan, listen to me. [Gan attacks Blake. Avon, Cally, and Vila run in. Avon and Vila pull Gan off Blake] BLAKE: Cally, get the medical kit quickly! [Gan fights Avon. Blake hits him on the head, and knocks him out] Tranquilizers, full strength. CALLY: [medkit in hand, pauses by Jenna] Are you all right? JENNA: Yes, I think so. CALLY: I'll be back in a minute. BLAKE: Pull his sleeve up. [he applies the tranquilizer] Put another one on. [Avon does so] Let it get right through his system. Well, the tranquilizer pad should keep him quiet for a while. CALLY: Two of them would flatten any one of us for about a hundred hours. AVON: If he comes round, he'll flatten all of us for a good deal longer than that. He ought to be put under restraint. VILA: Oh, my head. What fell on me? AVON: He did. JENNA: It all happened so quickly. One minute he was crying with pain, then he went beserk. VILA: I'm glad he's a friend. Could get very painful if he really didn't like you. AVON: It must have something to do with the limiter implant in his brain. BLAKE: It's been bothering him for some time. He tried to keep it secret, but I'm sure he was in a lot of pain. Let's get him to the surgical unit. Avon, stay and check for damage, will you? You three, give me a hand. AVON: All flight deck systems, full status checks. Standard priority listings. ZEN: Confirm standard priority listing. AVON: Begin. ZEN: Priority alpha one. Primary computer links are clear and functioning. [in med unit] BLAKE: Anything? JENNA: There's some inflamation around the implant scar. Look. BLAKE: Yeah. No other external sign. CALLY: Blake! Look at his hand. BLAKE: Jenna, get the diagnostic analyzer. JENNA: Right. BLAKE: We'll run the usual checks. What's the matter? JENNA: I don't think it's going to show us much, though, except that there's a malfunction in the limiter. BLAKE: I hope for his sake you're wrong. CALLY: What are you doing? BLAKE: I want him secure. CALLY: Surely that is unnecessary. He's a sick man, those are not going to help him. BLAKE: The limiter is supposed to cut in when stress drives him to the point where he might kill. CALLY: So? BLAKE: So on the flight deck he tried to kill ME. The limiter didn't even slow him down. CALLY: Well, among my people such things are considered barbarous. BLAKE: All right, just make him comfortable, but I want him secure. [flight deck] BLAKE: Well? AVON: All systems clear and functioning. BLAKE: That's something, anyway. AVON: What about Gan? BLAKE: He's still out. We've run the diagnostic checks, it might show up something. AVON: Yes. And that something will tell you what you already know. Why don't you face it? BLAKE: Because I don't know what to do about it! And if it is the limiter, I don't know how we can help him. Unless neurosurgery is one of your particular talents. AVON: Unfortunately, no. BLAKE: Suppose Zen gave us the necessary information and detailed instructions. AVON: Oh, come on, Blake! This is not something you do by numbers, not even highly sophisticated ones. This is an area that has remained the exclusive province of specialists. BLAKE: Yes, I know, I know. AVON: There are quicker ways that you could kill him, but there are none more certain. VILA: [V.O.] Blake, Avon. Do you want to come down? Jenna's running the tests now. AVON: We're on our way. Well, are you coming? BLAKE: I'll be with you in a minute. Zen, reverse thrust and stop. ZEN: Confirmed. BLAKE: I want a hard print on the following information. [med unit] VILA: Funny, we're all standing here hoping there's something wrong with him. Something ordinary, a nice straight forward disease. BLAKE: Well? AVON: Nothing, so far. JENNA: Here it is. BLAKE: Readout. VOICE: Severe neurological disturbance centered in the zero three zone sub four section of the cerebrum. Condition must be relieved if permanent brain damage is to be avoided. BLAKE: Prognostication? VOICE: Rapid deterioration to terminal condition. BLAKE: Recommendation. VOICE: Immediate investagative surgery. VILA: So. If we don't get him treatment, he'll be a vegetable. JENNA: Or die. AVON: Switch on the voray scan. BLAKE: You two watch the screen. I'll do the probe. AVON: Right. Bring it directly over the skull. No, that won't do. You'll have to use the radio sensor. Good, that's much better. Yes, there it is. There's the limiter implant, you can see it quite clearly. Give me the side view. Good. Yes, it's in the sub four section all right. Now let's take a look at the limiter itself. Close focus, slowly. JENNA: Well, there's nothing wrong with the connectors. AVON: All right, deepen the focus. More. That's it. Look at the micro linkages, the fine lines. BLAKE: Is there a fault? AVON: I'm not sure. That section seems to be burned out. That could cause a conductivity loss. JENNA: Would that account for what's happening to him? AVON: It's not my field, but if I am right, then the limiter is feeding scrambled impulses into his brain. CALLY: Can it be corrected? AVON: You've got to get into this first. BLAKE: We need a neurosurgeon. VILA: Which we haven't got. JENNA: Blake, we can't just let him die. If he needs a neurosurgeon, that's what we've got to get. BLAKE: Yes, and quickly. Look.[Gan's hands clench spasmodically] [flight deck] BLAKE: And that's all the navigation computers could come up with? ZEN: Confirmed. Your print is the full list within the parameters specified. JENNA: Blake, what about Kainnessos? An independent Earth colony. Population in excess of seven million. They should have some medical expertise. BLAKE: What's the journey time? JENNA: Six hundred hours. AVON: Too long. You haven't anything like that much time. BLAKE: What about Overon? JENNA: Three hundred and fifty hours. Only third-level technology, though. AVON: Which means that they won't have the necessary medical expertise. BLAKE: Cassiona? AVON: That's a Federation stronghold. BLAKE: We know they can do the surgery. AVON: There's a price on our heads. We are all under sentence of death. JENNA: The difference is that Gan's sentence is being carried out right now. BLAKE: Any others with the necessary level of technology? JENNA: Only Epinal. But the problem there is that they're considered potentially hostile. BLAKE: To the Federation? JENNA: To the species. They don't like humanoids in general, and in particular homo sapiens. AVON: That puts their intelligence beyond doubt. BLAKE: How long would it take? JENNA: Two hundred hours. BLAKE: Two hundred hours? That's our best alternative. AVON: There is another one even closer. BLAKE: Not on the listings we've been given. AVON: Zen, why is XK seventy two not listed? ZEN: XK seventy two is outside listed parameters. BLAKE: Specify. ZEN: Flight time from this position is in excess of six hundred hours. AVON: Conclusion is incorrect. Recompute distance and flight time. BLAKE: What is XK seventy two? AVON: It's a space laboratory. A permanent research facility financed by a consortium of neutral planets. Two specialist fields: weaponry and space medicine. An interesting combination, don't you think? JENNA: How do you know all this? AVON: I looked it up in the data banks. It was information that I thought might prove useful to me. VILA: A bolt hole. Somewhere to run if things get too hot here. AVON: The thought had crossed my mind. JENNA: Why haven't you told us about this station before? BLAKE: Presumably if he goes there with us he'll be identified. [Smiles at Avon] VILA: You can say goodbye to one bolt hole. BLAKE: How far is it? AVON: One hundred and fifty hours. [To Zen] Confirm. ZEN: Flight time is six hundred forty three hours. AVON: Direct flight. ZEN: Direct flight would necessitate crossing a prohibited space zone. VILA: Prohibited? BLAKE: Specify. ZEN: The zone has been designated as containing unacceptable danger. BLAKE: What sort of danger? ZEN: Data is not available. BLAKE: To you or just to us? ZEN: There is no data of any kind. AVON: Just the unacceptable risk designation. ZEN: Confirmed. BLAKE: If the direct route to XK seventy two is fifty hours shorter than our nearest alternative then that can be the difference between life and death for Gan. VILA: And for us. JENNA: Realistically, it's his only chance. AVON: I agree with Jenna. VILA: You do? AVON: I have never taken things on trust. I see no reason to make an exception in the case of a mysterious warning of danger. JENNA: Neither do I. BLAKE: Right, let's get to it. VILA: Don't I get asked? BLAKE: Zen. Set navigation computers for direct route to space laboratory XK seventy two. Speed Standard by Six. ZEN: Rejected. AVON: You CANNOT reject a direct command. BLAKE: Justify that rejection, please. ZEN: Your command reduces to an order to self-destruct. This runs counter to Prime Directive. VILA: Zen obviously believes there's something nasty in that zone. AVON: It has no data. It is acting upon an instruction, an order not to enter the zone. BLAKE: Then we'll go on manual. Jenna? JENNA: Ready. Compute course and let's get started. BLAKE: [Pulling Avon's attention back from Zen] Avon? VILA: Now, wait a minute. If it's too difficult for Zen to tackle, what chance have we got? JENNA: Gan is dying. VILA: All right. Well, let's get on with it. JENNA: We're approaching it now. ZEN: Attention. Liberator is entering prohibited zone. All primaries and auxiliary computer functions are now aborted. BLAKE: Zen! JENNA: Blake, the screen's gone dead. BLAKE: Well, check it. JENNA: Definitely dead. BLAKE: Switch to the secondary. JENNA: Oh, thank heaven that works. BLAKE: Now we really are on our own. AVON: Let's hope so. VILA: What do you suppose it is that's lurking out there? JENNA: Maybe Zen's got it wrong. AVON: Zen hasn't got it at all. JENNA: All right then, whoever programmed him. AVON: One of these days I intend to find out who that is. VILA: If you live that long. BLAKE: Anything on the detectors? VILA: Not a thing. What you see on the screen is exactly what's there. Absolutely nothing. Why should I find nothing terrifying? BLAKE: [into communicator] How's Gan? CALLY: [V.O.] No change. Blake, what is the flight time across the zone? BLAKE: Avon? AVON: Thirty hours. BLAKE: Thirty hours. VILA: That gives it plenty of time to leap out on us then. JENNA: Must you keep on about it, Vila? VILA: Sorry. Just nervous. BLAKE: We're all nervous. VILA: I thought it was only me. BLAKE: What are your readings, Vila? VILA: Uh, full range detector, nothing to report. BLAKE: Jenna? JENNA: All flight systems normal. BLAKE: Avon? AVON: Navigation coordinates set and firm. BLAKE: Hmm. Well, presumably Zen will come back to us when we're out of danger. VILA: Sounds like a good idea. Any chance of joining him? JENNA: Zero one surge on primary two. Confirm? VILA: Confirmed. JENNA: Compensating. VILA: Stable. AVON: Blake, there's something we haven't thought of. BLAKE: What? AVON: Systems instability. We have never operated without the auxiliary computers before. BLAKE: You mean they've been compensating for things like that power surge? AVON: They've made every minor adjustment that the systems require. And the chances are that they are now going to require a lot. BLAKE: Because computer control is -- BLAKE: [Together] -- part of the basic design -- & AVON: AVON: -- concept. BLAKE: Damn. AVON: We're going to have to turn back. Jenna, stand by to reverse the course. JENNA: Look, we've set out to save Gan and that's what we're going to do. AVON: But you don't understand. JENNA: Neither do you. We're committed. I intend to go on flying this ship even if all systems go into a flat spin. AVON: [Grabs her by both arms and pulls her around] But that's exactly what will happen! BLAKE: All right, Avon, that's enough! BLAKE: The signal to abort the auxiliary computers came from Zen. Can you override it, bypass Zen, and get them working again? AVON: Possibly. BLAKE: Well, try. AVON: All right. But I'm telling you, you should turn back. JENNA: Not a chance. VILA: What was all that about? Everything is running smoothly. BLAKE: That was because everything was balanced before the computers went off line. Try and adjust something, and you unbalance something else. Try and adjust that, you unbalance two more and before you know what's happened, the ship is out of control. JENNA: Blake, we're drifting off course. BLAKE: Lateral drift on coordinate four. JENNA: Got it. Compensating. BLAKE: Stable. VILA: I've just had a comforting thought. We may all be dead before we find out why this is a danger zone. [computer room] BLAKE: [V.O.]Have you done it, Avon? AVON: Soon. BLAKE: [V.O.]How soon? AVON: I can talk or I can work, but I can't do both. BLAKE: [V.O.]We're running out of time, Avon. [flight deck] VILA: Blake, we're picking something up on the detectors. BLAKE: What is it? VILA: I dunno. The signal's very weak. BLAKE: No telling what it is from here. JENNA: Our speed's increasing slightly. BLAKE: Reduce to standard by three, Jenna. JENNA: Standard by three. BLAKE: Can we squeeze any more range on the visuals? VILA: It's at the limit now. BLAKE: We may have to reverse thrust and run. JENNA: That would really throw our systems into chaos now. VILA: Hurry up, Avon. JENNA: We're moving off course again. BLAKE: Lateral drift, coordinate three. JENNA: Got it. Blake! BLAKE: What is it? JENNA: Our speed's increasing again. [in surgical unit, Gan is waking and groaning, and looking around slyly] AVON: Blake, I can't do it. You must turn back, before it's too late. BLAKE: We're already too late. We're in an unstable magnetic field. We can't turn back. Avon, we NEED those computers. VILA: Can you stop us, Jenna? JENNA: Without computers, not a chance. BLAKE: Detectors? VILA: Same signal, getting closer. There's still no telling what it is. JENNA: We're speeding up again. BLAKE: Try and compensate. [in med unit, Cally listens to earphone] BLAKE: [V.O.]If we get up past Standard by Twenty we'll be out of control. JENNA: [V.O.]I think she's holding. We're leveling off. BLAKE: [V.O.]Keep it steady. CALLY: How are you feeling? GAN: Tired. Very tired. What's been happening? CALLY: You were ill. We're trying to get to a place where you can receive medical treatment. GAN: I'm all right. Just that I, I can't remember. Why am I being held down like this? CALLY: When the pain was too much for you, you became violent, and we were frightened you might harm yourself. GAN: I'm sorry, I just can't remember. I'd like to sit up. Help me, will you, Cally? CALLY: I think you should stay where you are until we can get help. GAN: I'm all right. A bit uncomfortable. I'd like to sit up. CALLY: There is some turbulance. You're safer where you are. GAN: Please. [Cally releases him.] CALLY: Is that better? [Gan coughs. Cally goes to get water. Gan attacks her, then leaves the surgical unit] AVON: Blake, I have managed to bypass Zen. I am now going to see if I can override the command. [Steps away from the intercom, thinks twice, comes back] Blake? Blake! BLAKE: There must be some way we can avoid it. JENNA: We can't. We're already too close to pull away. With computer backup, we might have flown through it. VILA: So, without computers? JENNA: We're dead. It'll tear us to pieces. BLAKE: Are you two ready? JENNA: Ready. BLAKE: Vila? VILA: Wha--, yes, ready. BLAKE: Concentrate, Vila. When I give the order to reverse thrust you two have gotta stop us from spinning. VILA: I know. BLAKE: Well, if you don't get it right, it'll be the last thing you do know. CALLY: Blake. BLAKE: Cally! What happened? CALLY: Gan has just tried to kill me. BLAKE: What? CALLY: I thought he was normal again. BLAKE: You mean you RELEASED him? CALLY: He's escaped. BLAKE: Jenna, you take my place. Brief Cally. [computer room, Gan tries to pull piping from wall] AVON: Gan, no! You'll break the computer links, we'll never get them started. [Avon tries to stop Gan, who thows him off] JENNA: Cally, reverse thrust in five seconds. On my mark, five four three two one. Thrust. [Blake hits Gan on head. He collapses] BLAKE: Are you all right? AVON: More or less. BLAKE: He got away from Cally. [Blake gets tranquilizer pads] AVON: Yes, well, I can see that! BLAKE: What about the computers? [ship shudders] AVON: What is going on? BLAKE: It's a gravitational vortex, biggest spiral you've ever seen. We're right on the edge of it. AVON: Auxiliary computers on-line and functioning. BLAKE: Right. Give me a hand with him, will you? JENNA: We've slowed the rate of approach, but we'll be drawn into it sooner or later. BLAKE: The way we're using power, it'll be sooner. CALLY: What will happen to the ship? AVON: The forces inside that will not merely destroy us, they will annihilate us. BLAKE: Now Avon's repaired the computers, what would be the difference if we went straight for the center of the vortex on maximum power? JENNA: Well, it'd be quick, whatever happens. BLAKE: Well, let's take the quick way. Take over, Jenna. JENNA: Right, everybody, we're going through the center of the vortex. AVON: Blake, in the unlikely event that we survive this -- BLAKE: Yes? AVON: I'm finished. Staying with you requires a degree of stupidity of which I no longer feel capable. BLAKE: No, you're just being modest. JENNA: On my mark, five four three two one. [they go through the vortex] JENNA: Standard by Twelve, still rising. BLAKE: The structural distort. JENNA: We'll never hold her, Blake. BLAKE: The automatics. Hit the automatics. JENNA: Blake, I can't. I must keep a straight heading. BLAKE: Jenna, look. Look at the screen. There's nothing there but the stars. We've made it. We are through! BLAKE: Yes, Avon. AVON: [V.O.]We're coming in range of XK seventy two. Just had a message from the station administrator. Very polite, but it boils down to who are we and what do we want. BLAKE: Tell him we're an experimental ship out of Earth on a proving flight. Then tell him what we'll need. AVON: [V.O.]You think he'll believe that? BLAKE: Convince him. Use your charm. CALLY: Why are you angry with Avon? BLAKE: I'm not. CALLY: You sound as if you are. BLAKE: He has a decision to make. If he wants to stay with us, it's got to be for his reasons. CALLY: You'll do nothing to persuade him? BLAKE: Nothing at all. JENNA: Reverse thrust, and stop. [to Vila] Give me closer vision. I only hope we're not too late. ZEN: Information. VILA: You're back, are you? ZEN: Status is firm. All systems are functioning normally. BLAKE: Where were you when we needed you? [to Avon] What did they say? AVON: They've invited the commander to go across. I've got a voice fix ... "Commander." JENNA: Why are we lying to them? VILA: Why not? No sense in looking for trouble. JENNA: They're neutral. BLAKE: That's a term that covers a whole range of attitudes, and some of them not very friendly. What did they say about a doctor? AVON: There's a neurosurgeon, a Professor Kayn. He'll be waiting for you. CALLY: [V.O.]Blake, it's urgent. BLAKE: What is it, Cally? CALLY: Gan's life signs are getting very irregular. His time is running out. I think he is beginning to die. BLAKE: [V.O.] I'll be as quick as I can. BLAKE: Teleport, Avon. JENNA: I can't see them believing that Liberator is a Federation ship, can you? VILA: Let's hope they don't even think about it. [Farron's office] FARRON: I've never seen a ship remotely like it before. What do you think, Professor Kayn? KAYN: I'm a surgeon. I'm not terribly interested in spaceship design. FARRON: You're one of our senior men. You share the responsibility for the safety of this station. KAYN: FARRON, I realize there is a place for administrators, but I'd be obliged if you'd remember where it is. Please don't presume to lecture me on my responsibilites. FARRON: So sorry, Professor. [into com unit] Have a team of engineers standing by to examine the shuttle craft these people send across, will you?. VOICE: [V.O.]Right. FARRON: Send the commander straight up. Make sure he's not armed. VOICE: [V.O.] Understood. [Blake teleports in] BLAKE: Don't worry, I'm not armed. FARRON: How did you do that? BLAKE: I'm sorry to be so abrupt, but could I see Professor Kayn now, please. KAYN: I'm Kayn. BLAKE: Ah. One of my crewmen is dying. Could you come with me straight away. FARRON: I'm afraid there are a few formalities we must sort out first. You can't just, uh, appear - KAYN: I'll come with you. FARRON: Professor Kayn, I cannot allow this. KAYN: Send me a memorandum, Farron. Through the usual channels, of course. BLAKE: Would you put this on please? KAYN: What is it? BLAKE: It's a teleport bracelet. FARRON: I warn you, this is most inadvisable. KAYN: I shall need a few things. BLAKE: Our surgical units are very well equipped, but I'll send back somebody for anything else you might need. KAYN: Farron, have Dr. Renor standing by to assist me, he'll know what I need. BLAKE: I'll send someone back for him. Are you ready? KAYN: I am ready. FARRON: Kayn, I cannot allow this, it is completely against station policy. BLAKE: Bring us across. FARRON: This behavior will have to be noted down in the station log. KAYN: That is remarkable. BLAKE: Avon, send someone across to collect Professor Kayn's assistant, will you? [To Kayn] Your bracelet, please. KAYN: I thought the matter transmission project had been abandoned. BLAKE: A temporary setback. KAYN: But with Federation resources it was just a matter of time, I suppose. BLAKE: This way, Professor. KAYN: Truly remarkable. BLAKE: Professor? KAYN: Oh, yes, sorry. One thing I will say for the Federation, when they decide to do a thing, they do it. [Blake and Kayn exit.] VILA: I didn't like the sound of that much. AVON: One of the many faces of neutrality. VILA: Who's going across to get the assistant? Shall I call Jenna? AVON: No. I'll go. VILA: Oh, good. Good idea, I mean. AVON: Why do you stay with Blake? VILA: I like him. AVON: That isn't a good enough reason. VILA: It is for me. That and the fact I've got nowhere else to go. AVON: [smiles] All right. Put me across. KAYN: Just a minute. This is interesting. What rank do you hold? BLAKE: I'm a civilian. KAYN: Unusual. BLAKE: We tend to be in the majority, even in the Federation. KAYN: I meant this is unusual. What are you up to? Proving flight on a military craft? It is a military craft? BLAKE: Excuse me, it's still experimental. It's classified. Uh, this way. CALLY: Why were you such a long time? BLAKE: Cally - KAYN: My fault, I'm afraid. Needed time to adjust. Can't afford to be disconcerted with this kind of work. Oh, yes, you are right, his condition is critical. Find out where my assistant is, will you please? BLAKE: Of course. KAYN: What's your name? CALLY: Cally. KAYN: All right, Cally, now you tell me why this man has a limiter implant. BLAKE: Where's Kayn's assistant? VILA: He'll be arriving any moment. BLAKE: For the time being, keep him here. VILA: Right. AVON: [V.O.] Vila, this is Avon. Dr. Renor is ready to come across. I won't be coming back with him, though. VILA: What do you mean, you won't be coming back with him? AVON: I'm staying for a look around. I'll call you when I'm ready. VILA: Oh, fine. I'll just hang around here and wait for you. AVON: You do that. VILA: Stand by. [operates teleport] Dr. Renor? BLAKE: So anything you can get from him about this Professor Kayn would be useful. JENNA: I'll try. I might not be his type, though. BLAKE: We'll just have to take the chance. JENNA: Thanks. BLAKE: Go on. Zen, I want a series of projections from the battle computers. Nearest Federation bases, likely flight patterns, flight times, and possiblity of interception. ZEN: Confirmed. JENNA: Hello. RENOR: Hello, hello, hello! VILA: Ah. Jenna, this is Professor Kayn's assistant, his name is - RENOR: Renor. And I had a feeling this was going to be a good day. JENNA: Yes, well, don't let your feelings run away with you. RENOR: Oh, a sense of humor, too. I love girls with a sense of humor. JENNA: Yes, I can see where that would be an advantage. This way, please. RENOR: Do you believe in love at first sight, Jenna? JENNA: Not yet. FARRON: I don't think you realize what you're suggesting. AVON: I am offering you my services, and, among other things, the secret of matter transmission. FARRON: You are offering me classified Federation material. This is an independent, neutral scientific foundation. AVON: Suppose I tell you that the material does not belong to the Federation, that we are not Federation personnel, and that THAT is not a Federation ship. FARRON: Then who does it belong to? AVON: Us. FARRON: Who are you? AVON: Before I tell you that, I should like your guarantee that the others will be allowed to leave unmolested. FARRON: Well, why should I give you that? AVON: You and your foundation stand to make a fortune. I'm merely asking for your guarantee that you will maintain your neutrality ... and protect your investment. FARRON: All right. You have my personal guarantee. Now who are you? KAYN: At last. RENOR: Sorry, professor. [to Cally] Hello! This place is full of pretty girls. KAYN: Prepare for immediate surgery, please. RENOR: Right. JENNA: I'll get out of your way. KAYN: Won't need you either, Cally. RENOR: Would have been helpful to have had one of them here. KAYN: Do you know who these people are? RENOR: Federation research team? KAYN: It's Blake and his crew. RENOR: THE Blake? How do you know? KAYN: They lie badly. RENOR: Stannis! That's who she is! Jenna Stannis. I've never met a celebrity before. KAYN: Celebrity! These people are maniacs, killers. RENOR: Oh, come on. KAYN: Mindless destroyers. RENOR: You don't know that. KAYN: They are destroying the greatest force for order in the known universe. RENOR: Order? Well, you've had a change of heart, haven't you? I'm sure poor old Farron would be delighted with your new concern for the rules. KAYN: Farron is a bureaucratic fool. I'm talking about stability, Renor, stability. With no stability there is no progress. RENOR: Progress to what? Brain implantation? KAYN: A dangerous psychopath? Certainly. Or would you prefer he'd been executed? RENOR: That's what you intend to do, isn't it? You're going to delay the operation so that Blake and his crew can be captured. KAYN: I haven't decided yet. RENOR: Well, delay much longer, and there won't be any decision to make. What are you doing? [Kayn has communicator in his hand] KAYN: Not that it's any business of yours, I'm going to contact the nearest Federation base. RENOR: I'll warn Blake. KAYN: And lose the chance of working with the greatest surgeon you'll ever see? You're too ambitious for that. Besides, I'm the only one who can save him, if I choose to. [into mic] XK seven two. [three pursuit ships against starfield] LEADER: Pursuit leader to pursuit two and three. Executive order states that damage to Research Station XK seventy two must be avoided if possible. Priority concern is capture of Blake and his crew. [Farron's office] FARRON: He did what? VOICE: Professor Kayn said you knew about it. FARRON: The communications section is well aware that no one is allowed to send official messages without clearing them first through channels. VOICE: Professor Kayn said it was a matter of life and death. FARRON: Hmm...Ask our visitor to come and see me, will you? I think he's looking around the computer section. His name is Avon. VOICE: Right. FARRON: Do we know what the Federation's doing? VOICE: The pursuit ships will be here in three hours. FARRON: Then find Avon quickly. RENOR: We must start the operation. KAYN: Not yet. The Federation ships need time. RENOR: But we're losing him. I mean look at the life signs. He's practically dead now. KAYN: Not yet. CALLY: It's taking a very long time. JENNA: Well, at least while they're still working, we know that Gan's got a chance. Kayn is supposed to be a genius. VILA: The trouble with a genius, is you're never too sure what he's up to. Perhaps Zen can tell how long the operation should normally take. JENNA: Zen? ZEN: There is insufficient data for an accurate projection. Within the parameters you have described, the surgeon's skill and operating procedures are unknow variables. [Vila gets gun] VILA: There you are. Thought not. FARRON: I can only apologize. I'm afraid there's absolutely nothing I can do for your friends now. AVON: It was naive of me to expect you to keep your word. FARRON: That is a little unfair. It's just that it's out of my hands. Look, Avon, it is against all the rules, and it's a risk I really shouldn't take, but I am prepared to let you stay here. AVON: What about the pursuit ships? FARRON: When your friends detect them they will presumably run or fight. AVON: They will have no other choice. FARRON: In which case, they may escape or more probably they will be destroyed. Either way, the Federation need never know that you're here on the station. You can work here in peace and safety. [Waits] Well? What do you say? AVON: I shall need to go back to the Liberator to collect a few things. FARRON: Good. You've made the right decision. LEADER: Pursuit leader to all crews. Full standby. Check all battle systems. Enemy contact estimated in one hour. [Renor fastens Kayn's collar] KAYN: Thank you. AVON: [V.O.] This is Avon, from XK seventy two. All right, Vila. Bring me across. Vila! Wake up, Vila. Vila! [Cally operates teleport] RENOR: I'm going to operate myself. KAYN: You'll kill him. RENOR: Well, at least I'll have tried! You call yourself a doctor? [Vila enters, handgun pointed at the doctors] VILA: No, he calls himself a genius. KAYN: Ah. VILA: Alright, genius, time's up. KAYN: I wondered how long it would take you. VILA: Well, you can stop wondering and start operating. KAYN: Why didn't Blake come himself? VILA: Blake doesn't know anything about it. I thought it was better that way. He's got a conscience. He might not be prepared to kill you. KAYN: And you are? VILA: Yes. AVON: If he isn't, I am. VILA: How did you get here? AVON: He sold us out to the Federation. Pursuit ships are only forty- five minutes away. VILA: You going to operate or not? KAYN: Alright. VILA: I have a feeling that was too easy. KAYN: Any attempt to move this ship while I'm operating will certainly result in this man's death. RENOR: He's right. Vibration, accelleration, any movement at all, and it's all over. AVON: [into com unit] Hold it, Blake. We can't leave yet. LEADER: Pursuit leader to all crews. Thirty minutes to contact. BLAKE: How soon can you complete? KAYN: Thirty-five minutes. BLAKE: Do it in twenty. KAYN: Or you'll kill me. BLAKE: Oh, no, no, no. In twenty-five minutes I'm returning you to your station. If you haven't completed your work -- KAYN: Your threats don't bother me in the least, you know. BLAKE: -- I shall destroy your hands. Twenty minutes. [He exits. Avon follows close upon.] KAYN: Animals! Stupid destructive animals! RENOR: Twenty minutes is more than enough time to complete. KAYN: Are you defending their behavior? RENOR: I can't defend ours! [In teleport bay,Kayn shows Blake some pictures of the limiter] KAYN: That's where the fault was, in the limiter, there. And there it is repaired. If you survive, so should he. BLAKE: Is there any way we can thank you? KAYN: You could try getting caught. AVON: Ready? [He puts them across.] All right, Jenna, get us out of here. JENNA: Zen, reverse thrust, Standard point zero-one. ZEN: Confirmed. JENNA: Lateral one-eighty. ZEN: Lateral one eighty. BLAKE: I'll handle this Jenna. You can help Gan. FERRON: [into com unit] They'll take no further action without orders from me! KAYN: You pathetic feeble-minded little beaurocrat. You going to let them get away? FERRON: You exceeded your authority, Professor Kayn. It was not your place to inform the Federation of their presence here. You violated the neutrality -- KAYN: Damn your neutrality! [into com unit] Get me weaponry! FERRON: How dare you! I'm in command of this base. KAYN: You have forfeited that command, Ferron, you gutless nothing. VOICE: Weaponry. FERRON: Stop that, I tell you! Take no orders-- KAYN: You struck my hand! [throttles Ferron, then strikes him with an object] VOICE: Weaponry. ZEN: Battle computers project pursuit ships directly in Liberator's flight path. BLAKE: Down zero one. Maintain heading and speed. Standard by eight. ZEN: Plasma bolt launched. BLAKE: Activate the force wall. AVON: Activated. [first bolt shakes them up] ZEN: Second bolt launched and running. BLAKE: Bearing directly. VILA: Missed! AVON: It missed us, but it's still running. VOICE: Ferron! Plasma bolt bearing directly on XK seventy two. It's going to hit us. Instructions, please. Ferron! Ferron! Ferron! [XK seventy two is hit, and explodes] AVON: Say goodbye to one bolt hole. BLAKE: That's not funny, Avon. AVON: It wasn't meant to be. ZEN: Pursuit ships are turning. BLAKE: You know what to do. AVON: Zen, increase speed to Standard by Eight. BLAKE: How do you feel? GAN: I feel as if someone has been poking around inside my head-- with a foot. VILA: We had to kick your brain a couple of times to get it started. GAN: Only twice? They didn't remove the limiter. CALLY: It was not possible. VILA: They've modified it, though. Your ears glow in the dark, now. BLAKE: Hey, let me know when you're ready for work. GAN: Thanks. BLAKE: Oh, by the way, welcome back. [general laughter] |